Although the very name of the country conjures up the cold, Iceland has one spot that’s warm–very warm–all year round. The Blue Lagoon spa, an about 45-minute drive from capital city Reykjavik, lures visitors with its ice-blue tinted, 100-degree waters and its dramatic surrounds. But this isn’t just a glorified, plein-air hot tub: The spa’s geothermal waters supposedly have healing properties.

Emily Bratcher is a contributing writer and editor for EthnoTraveler. She lives in Iowa City.